Rope sling protector



May 28, 1957 J. G. GALE ROPE SLING PROTECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19. 1954 INVENTOR. James 6. Gale.

ATTORNEYS Iv e l lsl May 28, 1957 J. G. GALE ROPE SLING, PROTECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1954 Arr q'mvgys.

United States Patent ROPE SLING PROTECTOR James G. Gale, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Newco Manufacturing Company, Inc., a corporation of Missourr Application February 19, 1954, Serial No. 411,464

6 Claims. (Cl. 294-74) This invention relates to rope protectors, and more particularly to a protecting device for use with ropes or rope slings in lifting loads to protect both the load and the rope from damage or abrasion during the load lifting operation.

Wire rope slings and the like have been used for lifting various loads such as pipe, steel building shapes, boxes, cartons and other cargo, and in many instances the same sling may be used for lifting loads having round surfaces and other loads having corners. When the rope is used directly against a cargo having sharp corners there is a tendency for the rope to gouge into the cargo and also the bending of the rope around the sharp corner will damage the rope. To prevent the damage to the cargo and load various types of protectors have been sleeved on the rope, but the placing of the protectors on the rope takes time and it is usually desirable to remove such protectors from the rope when lifting round cargo such as pipe.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a rope or sling protector which may be easily and quickly placed on or removed from the rope intermediate its length; to provide a rope protector with oppositely directed grooves in which the natural tendency of the rope to straighten retains the protector on the rope and prevents it from becoming accidentally disengaged therefrom; to provide a one-piece rope protector having inner surfaces adapted to engage portions of a load to be lifted and opposite rounded surfaces adapted to engage the rope and eliminate sharp bends or other damage to the rope in lifting a load; and to provide a rope protector particularly adapted to be forged or cast in one piece, that is simple and rugged in construction and inexpensive to manufacture and which may be easily adjusted along the length of the rope for properly engaging a load to be lifted.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a load being lifted by rope employing rope protectors embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the rope protectors on the line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lower corner rope protector.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the lower corner rope protector.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the lower corner rope protector on the line 5--5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the upper corner rope protector.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through the upper corner rope protector.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view through'the upper rope protector on the line 8-8, Fig. 7.

2,7 93 ,904' Patented May 28 195.7

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a rope protector for engagement with a hook or the like.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view through the hook rope protector.

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view through the hook rope protectoron theline 1111, Fig. 10.

Referring more .in detail to the drawings;

1 designates a flexible load lifting member such as a sling of wirerope, chain or the like with its vends .suitably connected to form a loop encompassing a load 2, such as a box, carton or other structure having corners. The load lifting member 1 will be referred to hereafter as rope, however, it is to be understood that it can be any type of flexible member such as rope, chain, Wire or the like. In the structure illustrated in Fig. 1, two slings 1 are used and on each of the slings rope protectors 3 are disposed so as to engage the lower corners of the load 2 and rope protectors 4 are arrangedso as toengage the upper corners of the load 2.. Theslings are also provided with .rope protectors 5 arranged to engage a crane hook. 6 for lifting the slings and load carried thereby.

The rope protectors 3 and 4 protect the corners of the load to prevent damage thereto by the rope and the rope protectors '3, 4 and 5 each protect the rope by preventing sharp bends therein orchafingfrom the load. Each of the protectors also is of such structure that it can be easily attached to or detached from the rope and can be adjusted along the lengththereof so as to accommodate various sizes and types of loads.

The lower corner protector 3 is particularly illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive and is of generally L shape with leg portions 7 and 8 which are disposed substantially .at right angles with respect to each other. The intermediate portion of the rope protector is such that the legs 7 and 8 have flat inner faces 9 and 10 respectively for engaging the load and outwardly extending side walls vlll and, 12

defining an outwardly opening rope receiving groove 13. The bottom portion 14 of the groove 13 .is rounded in a transverse direction to snugly receive the rope and prevent lateral motion thereof and is also rounded longitudinally whereby the rope cannot be subjected to a sharp bend in extending around the corner of the load to be lifted. The end portions of the legs 7 and 8 each have inwardly opening rope receiving grooves 15 defined by U-shaped portions 16 with the leg 17 being an extension of the side 12 and the leg 18 spaced as at 19 from the side 11. The bottoms 20 of the grooves are rounded and substantially parallel to and spaced substantially the diameter of the rope to be used from a tangent to the curved bottom 14 of the outwardly opening groove 13. The spacing 19 is slightly more than the diameter of the rope 1 whereby the rope may be bent in a U as illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3 and the legs of the said U moved through the spacing 19 whereby the curved portion can be moved into the outwardly opening groove 13. The natural tendency of the Wire rope tostraighten causes same to move outwardly into the inwardly opening grooves 15, said tendency to straighten holding the rope engaged in the grooves 13 and 15 and also tending to hold the rope protector in selected position on the rope until moved by the user.

The upper corner protector 4 is similar to the lower corner protector 3 in that it has fiat inner faces 21 and 22 disposed substantially at right angles and adapted to engage the upper corner of a load to be lifted. Also there is an outwardly opening groove 23 defined by outwardly extending side walls 24 and 25 and the outwardly opening groove '23 has a bottom 26 curved transversely and longitudinally of the rope to'be received in said groove. The legs 27 and 28 are not disposed at right angles, however, each has U-shaped ends 29 defining inwardly opening grooves '30, one leg of each of the U-shapedmembers to be received in the protector.

3 being an extension of the side wall 25 and the other leg 31 being spaced as at 32 from the side walls 24, the spacing 32 being slightly more than the diameter of the rope The leg 28 is preferably substantially the same as one of the legs 7 or 8 of thelower corner protector 3 and has the same relationship to the flat load engaging inner faces 21 and 22, but the bottom of the groove 31) in the leg 27 is preferably substantially at a 60 angle from the plane of the face 21 and is parallel to and spaced from a tangent to the bottom of the groove 23 a distance equal to the diameter of the rope to be used. The 60 angle is provided in the structure illustrated as it is believed that such an angle of the rope from the upper corner of the load to the crane hook is desirable. However, it is obvious that this angle can be changed without altering the operation of the rope protector. The rope is applied to the protector 4 by bending said rope as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 6 and inserting same through the spacing 32, whereby the rope can be engaged in the grooves 23 and 39 and the natural tendency of the rope to straighten will hold said rope in said grooves due to the opposite opening thereof.

The rope protectors 5, as illustrated in Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive, has an outwardly opening groove 33 in the intermediate portion 34 and inwardly opening grooves 35 in opposite angularly extending legs 36, the bottoms of the grooves being curved transversely and the groove 33 also being curved longitudinally. The structure of the protector is similar to the structure of the lower corner protector 3 except that the inner face 37 of the intermediate portion is curved and there is an integral extension 38 defining a loop 39 adapted to be sleeved over the crane hook 6. Each of the U-shaped ends forming the inwardly opening grooves 35 has one wall spaced, as at 40, from one of the walls forming the intermediate outwardly opening groove 33 whereby the rope may be bent and inserted through the spaces 40 and moved into the grooves 33 and 35, the tendency of the rope to straighten holding said rope in the grooves.

In using rope protectors constructed as described, a wire rope in the form of a sling is bent to apply said rope through the spaces or lateral slots or openings in the side walls of the rope protectors and the rope moved to enter the grooves in said protector. Two of the lower corner protectors 3 are applied to the rope and moved thereon to a desired spacing for engaging the lower corners of the load to be lifted. Then upper corner protectors are applied to the rope and moved into engagement with the upper corners of the load, then the rope protector 5 is arranged on the rope with said rope in the grooves 33 and 35. The protector 5 is moved substantially equally distant from the upper corner protectors 4. The hook 6 is then inserted through the loop 39. Additional slings and protectors can be applied to the load in the same manner and then the elevation of the crane hook will lift the load with the rope substantially in the shape as shown in Fig. 2. It is to be noted that the protectors provide curved bends at points of engagement of the protectors and rope so as to prevent damage to the rope. Also the protectors prevent the rope from coming directly in contact with the load and thereby protect the load from chafing or damage from the rope.

After the load has been moved as desired the rope and protectors thereon can be removed from the crane hook and load and the protectors will remain on the rope until it is desired to remove same. In order to remove the protectors the rope is bent whereby it can be moved. through the lateral slots or spaces 19, 32 and 40 of the protectors 3, 4 and 5 respectively, then the rope can be easily drawn from the outwardly opening grooves and the protector turned whereby the remainder of the rope will pass through the other of the spaces. Another quick -way of removing the rope from the protectors is to grasp the rope at each end of the protector and move same inwardly to form a U-shaped loop as shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 9, and the rope can then be removed through the lateral openings and from the outwardly opening grooves.

While the rope protectors 3, 4 and 5 are all shown in use in lifting a load it is believed obvious that various combinations of the protectors can be used depending upon the shape and size of the load.

It is believed obvious I have provided a rope protector of one-piece construction that is easily applied and adjusted on a rope to engage a load to be lifted and protect both the rope and load from damage.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1.. A one-piece protector for use on elongate flexible load lifting members and insertable thereon intermediate the ends thereof comprising, a body member having an intermediate portion with end portions extending therefrom, said end portions being arranged in angular relation with respect to each other, said intermediate portion having an outwardly opening groove therein for receiving a flexible load lifting member and an inwardly facing load engaging surface, inwardly opening grooves in the end portions, said inwardly and outwardly opening grooves being of a width and depth to substantially wholly receive the respective portions of the flexible load lifting member therein and eliminate lateral movement thereof, said grooves being aligned whereby a flexible load lifting member therein engages the bottom of the outtwardly opening groove in the intermediate portion and the bottoms of the inwardly opening grooves in the end portions, and laterally extending slots between the intermediate and end portions communicating with the grooves for insertion of the flexible load lifting member therein, said laterally opening slots each being positioned at an acute angle to the bottom of the inwardly opening groove in the adjacent end portion.

2. A one-piece protector for use on an elongate flexible load lifting member and insertable thereon intermediate the ends thereof comprising, a body member having an intermediate portion with end portions extending therefrom, said end portions being arranged in angular relation with respect to each other, said intermediate portion having an outwardly opening groove therein for receiving a flexible load lifting member, flat inner surfaces on the intermediate portion arranged substantially at an angle to form a corner for engaging a corner of a load to be lifted, inwardly opening grooves in the end portions, said inwardly and outwardly opening grooves being of a width and depth to substantially wholly receive the respective portions of the flexible load lifting member therein and eliminate lateral movement thereof, said grooves being aligned whereby a flexible load lifting member therein engages the bottom of the outwardly opening groove in the intermediate portion and the bottoms of the inwardly opening grooves in the end portions, said groove in the intermediate portion being rounded transversely and longitudinally of the flexible load lifting member for eliminating sharp bends therein, and laterally extending slots between the intermediate and end portions communicating with the adjacent ends of the grooves therein for insertion of the flexible load lifting member therein, said laterally opening slots each being positioned at an acute angle to the bottom of the inwardly opening groove in the adjacent end portion.

3. A one-piece protector for use on an elongate flexible load lifting member and insertable thereon intermediate the ends thereof comprising, a body member having an intermediate portion, end portions extending from the intermediate portion and arranged in angular relation with respect to each other, spaced side walls connected by an inner wall in the intermediate portion forming an outwardly opening groove therein for receiving a flexible load lifting member, said inner wall having an inwardly facing load engaging surface, inwardly opening grooves in each of the end portions communicating with the outwardly opening groove in the intermediate portion, said inwardly and outwardly opening grooves being of a width and depth to substantially wholly receive the respective portions of the flexible load lifting member therein and eliminate lateral movement thereof, and laterally opening slots in a side wall at adjacent ends of the grooves in the intermediate and end portions and communicating with said grooves for insertion of the flexible load lifting member therein, said grooves being aligned whereby a flexible load lifting member therein engages the bottom of the outwardly opening groove in the intermediate portion and the bottoms of the inwardly opening grooves in the end portions, said groove in the intermediate portion being rounded longitudinally of the flexible load lifting member for eliminating sharp bends therein, said laterally opening slots each being arranged at an acute angle to the normal position of the flexible member in the adjacent end portion.

4. A one-piece protector for use with an elongate flexible load lifting member and insertable thereon intermediate the ends thereof comprising, a body member having an intermediate portion, end portions extending from the intermediate portion and arranged in angular relation with respect to each other, spaced side walls connected by an inner wall in the intermediate portion forming an outwardly opening groove therein for receiving a flexible load lifting member, said inner wall having an inwardly facing load engaging surface, and spaced side walls connected by an outer wall in each of the end portions forming inwardly opening grooves therein, a side wall of each of the end portions being integral with a side wall of the intermediate portion with the other side wall of the respective end portion spaced from the other side wall of the intermediate portion to form laterally opening slots between the intermediate and end portions communicating with the grooves for insertion of the load lifting member therein, said inwardly and outwardly opening grooves being of a width and depth to substantially wholly receive the respective portions of the flexible load lifting member therein and eliminate lateral movement thereof, said grooves being aligned whereby a flexible load lifting member therein engages the bottom of the outwardly opening groove in the intermediate portion and the bottoms of the inwardly opening grooves in the end por tions, said groove in the intermediate portion being rounded longitudinally of the flexible load lifting member for eliminating sharp bends therein, said laterally opening slots each being arranged at an acute angle to the normal position of the flexible member in the adjacent end portion.

5. A one-piece protector for use on elongate flexible load lifting members and insertable thereon intermediate the ends thereof comprising, a body member having an intermediate portion, end portions integral with and extending from the opposite ends of the intermediate portion and in angular relation with respect to each other,

said intermediate portion having spaced side walls connected by an inner wall and forming an outwardly opening groove therein for receiving a flexible load lifting member, said inner wall having flat inner load engaging surfaces substantially at right angles for forming a corner engageable with a corner of a load to be lifted, and spaced side walls connected by an outer wall in each of'the end portions forming inwardly opening grooves therein, a side wall of each of the end portions being integral with a side wall of the intermediate portion with the other side wall of the respective end portion spaced from the other side Wall of the intermediate port-ion to form laterally opening slots between theintermediate and end portions communicating with the grooves for insertion of the flexible load lifting member therein, said inwardly and outwardly opening grooves being of a width and depth to substantially wholly receive the respective portions of the flexible load lifting member therein and eliminate lateral movement thereof, said grooves being aligned whereby a flexible load lifting member therein engages the bottom of the outwardly opening groove in the intermediate portion and the bottoms of the inwardly opening grooves in the end portions, said groove in the intermediate portion being rounded transversely and longitudinally of the flexible load lifting member for eliminating sharp bends therein, said laterally opening slots each being positioned at an acute angle to the bottom of the inwardly opening groove in the adjacent end portion.

6. A one-piece slip-on sling fitting having a body of substantially arcuate contour longitudinally thereof, said body having an intermediate portion with an outwardly opening channel relative to the arcuate contour of the body for receiving a rope therein, said outwardly opening channel extending longitudinally of the intermediate portion of the body with the opening thereof unobstructed for the length thereof, said body having end portions at each end of the intermediate portion, said end portions having channels communicating with the channel in the intermediate portion and opening oppositely thereto relative to the arcuate contour of the body, said channels in the intermediate and end portions being of greater depth than the width of the rope, said body having laterally opening slots of greater width than the width of the rope to be received in said channels and intersecting said opposed channels at adjacent ends thereof, said opposed channels having bottoms spaced radially relative to the arcuate contour of the body whereby the portion of a rope in the channels of the end portions is substantially tangentially of the portion of a rope in the intermediate portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

